Abrasive medium



Oct. 28, 1930. R, L HARTWELL- 1,779,771

ABRAS I VE MEDIUM Filec May 22, 1928 ATTORNEY `Patented Oct. 1930 untreu-"STATES PATENT OFFICE l BALI' L HABTWELL, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO METAL TEXTILE CORPO- EATION, Ol' WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND ABBASIVE MEDIUM Application nled Hay 22,

This invention relates, i generally, to a novel form of abrasive medium having a base of metallic material of the kind known as metallic wool, such, for example, as steel Wool, copper wool, aluminum wool or metallic wool produced from other metals or metal alloys; and the invention also has reference to a method of producing the novel abrasive medium of this invention.

Metallic wools of the kind above mentioned consist in relatively long and strong metallic fibers or strands which have been shaved from a given metal or metal alloy and irregularly interentangled in a lnore or less loose mass. Such interentangled masses are known to provide a considera-ble degree of abrasive efficiency, for the reason that, in the process of producing the shavings making up the same, a plurality of sharp cutting e ges are furnished in connection with the fibers or strands produced. Usually the tools, em-

loyed in shaving olf the fibers or strands rom the given metal or metal alloy base, are of such shape that the v,resultant fibers or strands are of triangular cross-sectional shape thus providing at least three sharp cutting edges. Fibers or strands may also be produced having other cross-sectional shapes calculated to increase the number of cutting edges.

Metallic wool as thus constituted and as heretofore usedin balled-up masses of interentangled fibers or strands, is initially fairly efficient as an abrasive medium, lbut possesses the very great disadvantage of more or less quickly disintegrating in use; i. e. the loosely interentangled fibers or strands shred out and wear away the mass, and the individual fibers or strands break up or splinter ofi more or less rapidly, so that in a comparatively short time the mass becomes thin and stringy and practically useless.

Having observed the above-mentioned disadvantages and defects normally attending the use of metallic wool as an abrasive in the commercial forms heretofore available, Ihave sought to remedy such disadvantages and defects, and it is the principal object of this invention toprovide a novel form of abrasive me- 1928. Serial No. 279,726.

dium utilizing metallic wool fibers or strands as a base as 'to which the effective life under service conditions is greatly prolonged, while at the same time a more efficient abrading surface may be provided, all in the manner hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the yfollowing detailed description of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of a loose rope of metallic wool fibers employed in making up the yarn of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but shows the rope twisted to form a yarn.

Fig. 3 is a view of a woven fabric body illustrating a use of the novel yarn of this invention.

Fig. 4 is a view of a knitted fabric body also illustrating a use of the novel yarn of this invention.

Fig. 5 illustrates the novel yarn of this invention as having a fiexible core.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective end View of the yarn of this invention; and

Fig. 7 is a view showing the novel yarn of this invention spirally wrapped about a core.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

To the end in viewrI take a mass of metallic wool libers or strands and, in any suitable manner or by any suitable mechanical aids desired, comb out a plurality of such fibers or strands into a continuous loose rope in which the fibers or strands lie substantially in 10ngitudinal parallel lines. Such initial loose rope is illustrated generally in Fig. 1 and is identified by the reference character 1. After providing therope 7', I then subject the same to a spinning operation, also in any suitable manner or by any suitable mechanical aids, so that the individual fibers or strands making up the rope 'r are helically twisted together more or less tightly, thus producing a metal wool yarn y, shown in Fig. 2.

Having spun a suiiicient quantity of the metal wool yarn y, the same is ready to be woven, knitted or otherwise fabricated into a flexible fabric. body. To this end, for example, any suitable loom may be employed to ,zuitably weave the yarn y into a fabric body, one form of which is illustrated in Fig. 3 and identified by the reference character w; or any suitable `flat or circular knitting machine may be employed to suitably knit the yarn 1/ into a fabric body, one form of which is illustrated in Fig. 4 and identified by the reference character lc. It will be obvious that the fabric body may be produced in other ways and in forms other than those specifically shown which are `intended to be illustrative only. It will also be obvious that I may produce a composite fabric in which the metal Wool yarn 1/ is interwoven, knitted or fabricated with yarns of other material, such as jute, cotton, plain round or flat Wire, etc., which fabric may be used in the manufacture of pot-cloths, mits and like articles in connection with which an abrasive characteristic and function is desired to be embodied. Furthermore, the metal wool yarn ma)y be utilized as a gimping upon jute, plain wire or other strands, by winding in a substantially helical arrangement, the carrier strand s With the metal Wool yarn y, is shown in Fig. 7 of th'x drawings.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of metallicvool yarn, wherein I provide a flexible core strand C of any selected material,` around 'which are assembled and uponwhich are spun or twisted the metal Wool fibers or strands to thus form a reenforced metal Wool yarn y. This reenfo-rced metal Wool yarn y may be fabricated into woven, knitted or otherwise produced fabric bodies in substantially the same manner as hereinabove already adverted to.

The fabric body comprising the metal wool yarns l1/ or y', or composites containing the same, may themselves be in turn rolled, folded or otherwise worked into various forms, such as pads, balls, rings, orvother forms to provide scouring devices having more or less substantial mass or body, and in any manner now familiar to those skilled in the scouring device art.

The fabric bodies made of metal wool yarn according to this invention provide a highly efficientabrasive medium since the twisting or spinning of the fibers or strands making up the same results in heli cally disposing the sharp angular cutting edges of the fibers or strands so as to present the same at the surface of the fabric bodies at a great variety of angles, (see Fig. 6) and consequently the abrasive effect is increased no matter what the direction of movement of the fabric may be when the same is applied to a surface to be scraped, cleaned, scoured or polished; not only is the abrasive efficiency of the fabric bodies thus assured, but the serviceable life of the fabric bodies is greatly prolonged, slnce the fibers or strands of the spun metal wool yarn are so intimately and strongly united throughout their length by the spinning process that tendency to disintegration, loosening, splinterin g, shredding, etc., is practically eliminated, and the integrity ofthe fabric body and of articles made therefrom is substantially undisturbed even after a long period of service in use.

It will be obvious that the metallic wool yarn may be made in various degrees of coarseness or fineness, and also that in making up the yarn I may selectively employ at will metal wool fibers or strands varying from very Ene to coarse grades of metallic wool or metallic shavings.

It will be understood, therefore, that the present invention provides an abrasive medium having greatly increased efficiency over ordinary forms of metallic wool n'laterial, while at the same time assuring a mediuln of unusual durability.

Having thus described my invention, I claim l. A fiexible yarn fo-r incorporation in abrasive devices comprising a longitudinally extending fiexible core and metallic wool strands extending substantially parallel to one another and being helically twisted together and assembled around and arranged in spiral relation with respect to said core.

2. A fiexible yarn for incorporation in abrasive devices comprising a longitudinally extending fiexible core and metallic Wool strands assembled around and arranged in spiral relation with respect to said core, said metallic wool strands being helically twisted together so as to frictionally interengage one another and serving to co-mpletely enclose and protect said fiexible core.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of May, 1928.

RALF L. HARTVELL. 

